Beekeeping has traditionally been associated with the countryside, but an increasing number of hives can now be found on the rooftops of city buildings. Supporters argue that urban beekeeping helps protect pollinators, whose numbers have declined in many regions. Cities often contain a surprising variety of flowering plants in parks, gardens and along streets, and because pesticides are used less heavily in some urban areas than on farms, bees may find a relatively safe source of food. Critics, however, warn that adding large numbers of honeybees to a city can create problems. Honeybees are managed insects kept by people, and they compete for the same flowers as wild bees, many species of which live alone rather than in colonies. If too many hives are placed in a small area, wild bees may struggle to find enough nectar and pollen. Some ecologists therefore recommend that cities limit the number of hives per square kilometre and plant more flowers before encouraging new beekeepers. In short, rooftop hives are not automatically good for nature. Their value depends on whether the local environment can support them alongside the insects that were already there.

According to the passage, many species of wild bees live alone rather than in colonies.